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| Armstrong: 21/11/2003 - 30/11/2010 |
Armstrong the Dalmatian who I blogged about two weeks ago was put to sleep on Tuesday, his quality of life no longer tolerable. He was just seven years old.
Armstrong died because he suffered, horribly, from a breed-specific problem (urinary stone disease) that could have been bred out of the breed by now if idiots who believe that purity is more important than health were not over-represented in the Dalmatian Club of America .
It is not too late for future Armstrongs. If you'd like to let the Dalmatian Club of America know how you feel, please email their president, Meg Hennessey
Armstrong's owner Shelley Gallagher is determined that her beloved dog's death won't be in vain.
"He loved visiting his cancer kids every week (below), so I had him wearing his therapy dog collar and hospital ID badge when we went to the vet to end his suffering. His whole life was based in helping others, and now his passing will continue that.
"Armstrong's legacy is that he will be the face of the stone issue and why it is so important to breed the NUA dals. It is incomprehensible to me how someone can hear his story and watch the videos of his surgery and still claim that stones are not a real issue in the breed. "
For more information on the efforts to rid Dalmatians of this painful, debiliating and - at times - lethal disease, click here